When can a lawyer limit the scope of representation?

A lawyer can limit the scope of representation when the limitation is both reasonable and the client provides informed consent. This principle is grounded in the ethical obligation that attorneys have to ensure that clients fully understand and agree to any restrictions or modifications in the representation they are receiving.

For such limitations to be valid, they must be based on reasonable considerations that serve the best interests of the client or the case at hand. Informed consent means that the client comprehensively understands the implications of the limitation—what is being excluded from the representation, the potential consequences of this limitation, and any alternatives that may be available. When both of these conditions—reasonableness and informed consent—are satisfied, the lawyer can ethically limit the scope of the representation while ensuring that the client's right to make decisions about their legal matters is upheld.

This aligns with ethical rules that guide the practice of law, which emphasize the importance of communication and consent between the attorney and the client. Such a framework helps build trust and clarifies the roles and expectations in the attorney-client relationship.